TRNC News Today 11^th June 2015

President Akıncı: “Living together is destiny of Turkish and Greek Cypriots”

Stating that it is the destiny of the Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots to live together, President Akıncı said that we need to find a way which can provide equality and security for both sides in the island. Akıncı pointed out that there is a common will and efforts within the context of improving social relationships and confidence-building measures and he underlined their aim for reaching a comprehensive settlement. Receiving the Chairman of the Board of the İzmir Chamber of Commerce Ekrem Demirtaş as well his accompanying delegation; Akıncı stated that a great potential will arise with reunification of Cyprus and relations with the West will also be improved.

Touching upon the issue of Hydrocarbons, Akıncı said that natural gas should be used as a catalyst for a settlement and it should be focused on preparing and planning the future rather than fighting over the island’s natural resources and making threats. There is still not enough gas found but it would only be logical to combine the island’s natural gas with that from Israel and sending it to Europe via Turkey. He also underlined that if there is will and determination, the Cyprus issue will not continue forever.

President Akıncı: “We will work to reach a settlement on Cyprus negotiations”

President Akıncı commenting on the elections in Turkey has said that whichever government is formed in Turkey, the Turkish Cypriot side would be in close contact with them to reach a settlement on Cyprus negotiations. Akıncı made a statement to the press about Turkey’s general elections before attending the Lieutenant Caner Gönyeli Search and Rescue exercise. Akıncı expressed that the results were the choice of the Turkish people and this should be respected. He went on to say that Turkey always supported the Cyprus negotiations and the Turkish Cypriot side will continue to be in close dialogue with the new government of Turkey to reach a settlement on Cyprus negotiations.

Technical committees will work together

Within the framework of the Cyprus negotiations, negotiators met again yesterday. Technical committees of both sides will work together to continue the negotiation process in a more fruitful way. Firstly; economy committees will come together. According to the statement of Presidential Spokesperson Barış Burcu; Turkish Cypriot negotiator Özdil Nami and Greek Cypriot negotiator Mavroyannis held a meeting of around 4 hours at Ledra Palace yesterday. UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus Lisa Buttenheim and also the members of negotiation committee attended the meeting. Spokesperson Barış Burcu stated that the negotiators developed a joint work principle to speed up the negotiation process before the Leaders’ meeting to be held on 17th of June. Furthermore; Barış Burcu stated that negotiators will meet again on 12 June and 15 June. A day before the Leaders’ meeting, UNSG Special Advisor on Cyprus Espen Barth Eide will hold separate meetings with the Leaders in the morning and meet with the negotiators in the afternoon. Eide will attend the Leaders’ meeting on 17th of June.

Bozkır: “It would be more appropriate if encouraging expressions took place in the report”

Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief negotiator Volkan Bozkır said “It would be more appropriate if encouraging expressions for negotiations took place in the report”.

Stating that unilateral perspective has been retained in Turkey’s report which was approved by the European Parliament, Bozkır said “Most likely we’re at a stage close to a solution on the Cyprus problem. In an environment where we are close to a solution on the Cyprus problem it would have been more appropriate to include encouraging expressions for negotiations in the report. Unfortunately, there are highly damageable expressions for Cyprus negotiations”.

Furthermore, stressing that the European Parliament should review the report, Minister Bozkır said European Parliament has issued a great number of decisions against Turkey before and this does not make a positive contribution to the EU-Turkey relations.

Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “EP Report includes baseless claims”

Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a written statement regarding “2014 Turkey Report” which was approved in the European Parliament yesterday.

The Resolution of the European Parliament (EP) regarding the European Commission’s 2014 Turkey Progress Report was adopted in the EP Plenary on 10 June 2015.

The EP resolution, which was drafted this year by Mrs.Kati Piri, Dutch member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, confirmed that Turkey is a strategic partner of the EU with its role in cooperation in the fields of economy, energy security and foreign policy, as already indicated in the 2014 Enlargement Strategy of the European Commission.

We continuously express to the EU authorities that Turkey sees accession to the EU as a strategic choice and resolutely continues to work in the direction of full membership. In order to reinforce and encourage this resolute stance, we expect the European Parliament to be fair and objective in its resolutions on Turkey and to voice its criticism and expectations in a balanced manner.

However, the EP resolution, which contained a balanced and constructive critical tone in its first draft, has unfortunately been changed into a one-sided text far from being objective in the process of adoption by the EP Foreign Affairs Committee. This attitude continued in the plenary of the EP, and thus one of the most unfortunate resolutions on Turkey has been adopted by the EP. It is obvious that this Resolution will not contribute to our cooperation with the EP.

The frequency of the resolutions against Turkey and their content with prejudiced statements and criticism undermine our relations with the EP, which took office after the elections held in May 2014. They also aggravate concerns that the EP is unwilling to include Turkey in the EU project.

We do not accept this resolution and will return it to the EP as it contains unfounded allegations against our country in many fields.

First Meeting of Technical Committee on Culture is on 1st of July

It was stated that the first meeting of bi-communal Technical Committee on Culture, which was formed with the decision of President Mustafa Akıncı and Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Anastasiades, probably will be on 1st of July.

Greek Cypriot daily Alithia noted that in his statement to Greek News Agency, Greek President of the Committee Andrulla Vasiliu said they will inform the UN about the joint meeting.

Fourth anniversary of Home for Cooperation was celebrated

The fourth anniversary of the establishment of the Home for Cooperation was celebrated with the principle of “love knows no boundaries”. The celebration started with the performance of “Green Line Love Park”. At the official ceremony which took place at its centre in the buffer zone, Mayor of Lefkoşa Turkish Municipality Mehmet Harmancı, Mayor of Nicosia Greek Municipality Konstantinos Yiorkadjis, Norway Ambassador Sjur Larsen, communication specialist of Home for Cooperation Yaprak Aydın and Member of the Board of Directors Salpy Eskidjian made speeches.